On Thursday, June 4 the Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science released a draft fiscal year 2010 budget which provides only $3.3 billion for exploration, nearly $700 million less than the President's request.

"With so many jobs at risk, we should be working to minimize the gap, not cutting funding for human spaceflight," said Kosmas. "I appreciate the desire to wait for recommendations from the Augustine Panel, but cutting funds in the meantime sends the wrong message and increases the risk of losing a professional workforce that may not be easily reassembled for future programs. Restoring funding and preserving jobs is a bipartisan, economic issue, and I am proud to work with Congressman Posey to express the urgency of the situation to the Appropriations Committee."

"I am disappointed that the appropriations bill going through Congress reduces NASA's budget even further," Posey said. "These additional cuts will further compromise our human spaceflight program. We need to restore the funding that was eliminated and provide additional resources to build a robust human spaceflight program and continue important advancements in technology."

The full Appropriations Committee will have an opportunity to make changes to the legislation during a markup on Tuesday, June 9.

The bill will then have to pass the full House of Representatives and be reconciled with companion legislation from the Senate before being sent to the President.